Who doesn’t know jelly beans? They’re a classic treat and popular among children and adults for ages. They taste great and come in various colors, making them great to watch. Unfortunately, the taste and colors will decrease over time as with all foods and drinks. How long do jelly beans last before going bad or rancid?
You’re asking yourself this question after you’ve found some leftovers, are they still good enough or not? In this article, we will cover all you need to know about jelly beans, their shelf life, how to store them and talk about their spoilage signs.
Enjoy the read!
What Are Jelly Beans
Jelly beans are small sugary treats that are brightly colored. They come in many flavors.
They’re made from sugar and corn syrup, mixed with starch and flavoring.
They can be used as a snack or as a topping to finish your cupcakes. They’re great to celebrate something and are just great to watch and eat. They were the favorite treat of former US President Ronald Reagan.
How Long Do Jelly Beans Last
Jelly beans always come with a best-by date. As always, use this date to decide the quality and freshness of your jelly beans. It doesn’t when the beans are expired, that everything will just be bad. It won’t just be as great as it should have been (bean?).
Jelly Beans | Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer |
---|---|---|---|
Unopened | Best-by date + up to 6 months | Best-by date + up to 6 months | Up to 12 months (1 year) |
Opened | Best-by date + up to 6 months | Best-by date + up to 6 months | Up to 12 months (1 year) |
Bought in Bulk | Up to 6 months | Up to 6 months | Up to 12 months (1 year) |
Homemade | Up to 6 months | Up to 6 months | Up to 12 months (1 year) |
We’d say that jelly beans can last for several months to a year when they’re stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, moisture, humidity, and so on.
Since they’re so popular, it shouldn’t be a problem to eat them within the year, unless you’ve bought too many.
How Long Do Jelly Beans Last Unopened
Unopened jelly beans will last at least a few months past the best-by date.
We’re talking about packed jelly beans here that come with a best-by date.
Use the date you bought them and they can last up to 6 months when stored properly and sealed tight.
Unopened bags of jelly beans can last for up to 1 year when stored in a cool and dry place like the pantry.
How Long Do Jelly Beans Last Once Opened
Once you’ve opened the pack of jelly beans, they can remain good for up to 6 months past the best-by date. They won’t spoil faster if you store them in the right way, thus in an airtight container and sealed tight.
How Long Do Jelly Beans Last In The Fridge
They can remain good for up to 6 months are the best-by date and don’t necessarily need to be refrigerated. They’ll remain good when sealed tight in an airtight container. Candy doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge but it’s possible.
How Long Do Homemade Jelly Beans Last
They’ll remain good for up to 6 months when stored properly. Homemade mostly means fewer additives and thus no extended shelf life.
Can You Eat Jelly Beans When They’re Expired
Yes, just like you can eat everything that’s expired but should you? You can eat them assuming they were stored in the right way. Yes, you can eat them, but the longer they’re past the date, the more likely they won’t taste jelly beans and have another texture.
Check for signs of spoilage but if you don’t find any, it shouldn’t harm you in any way.
We on GoodOrGoneBad suggest that you shouldn’t eat expired jelly beans or jelly beans that taste nothing. Jelly beans should taste like jelly beans. You deserve great taste and the best experience. This can be reason enough to toss them and buy a new pack.
The above periods are general advice and can only be applied when the beans were stored in the right way.
How To Store Jelly Beans
The jelly beans are best placed in a cool and dry area. The pantry, cupboard, and fridge will do just fine. Storing them in an airtight container (sealed tight) makes them less vulnerable to external threats like heat sources, air, moisture, bacteria, direct sunlight, strong odors, and so on.
I always store them in the pantry, together with the other treats, gummies, and quick cookies. I don’t live in a very hot place, so the pantry will do fine. If you live where temperatures are higher, you might consider storing them in the fridge.
Always make sure you can reseal the pack of beans. Transferring everything in a mason jar or airtight container with dark glass will do just fine. Great candy shouldn’t sit for 6 months in your storage, to begin with right?
Some tips:
- Store them in the same way as you’ve bought them: the pantry is a great choice, you don’t need to store them in the fridge if you don’t want to.
- Temperature: consider storing your beans in cooling or freezer bags. A lot of people store foods and drinks properly, but don’t pay enough attention to the journey between the store and their home.
- Don’t store them in one bag with other treats or candies like gummy bears, because this can influence the taste.
If you’ve bought too many of them, you can always choose to freeze a larger portion of them in your freezer.
Can You Freeze Jelly Beans
Yes, you can freeze your jelly beans to extend their shelf life up to 1 year or more. You can freeze it for a longer period but we simply say you shouldn’t freeze things longer than 6 months or 1 year. You can perfectly finish your jelly beans within this period.
But be cautious as freezing and thawing jelly beans isn’t without risks.
Freezing jelly beans can affect their taste and texture if not done correctly.
Try to do the following when you’re about to freeze your jelly beans:
- Divide them into single-serve portions
- Pack them in 1 or 2 plastic freezer bags (double-bagging them)
- Label the bags or containers with the correct date and time of freezing.
- Place into the freezer
When you’re about to use your frozen jelly beans, let them thaw and rest in the refrigerator overnight.
Just know that freezing and thawing your beans can affect their texture and taste.
Always do a quick check on the spoilage signs before you’re eating the jelly beans.
How Can You Tell If Your Jelly Beans Have Gone Bad
It takes some time before your jelly beans will go bad.
Trust in your abilities and senses when checking for spoilage signs.
You can easily see that your beans have gone bad when they’ve changed in texture and appearance. They should have a bright color. If you notice discoloration, that should be enough for you to get rid of them. We also don’t want mold (darker colors).
Do they have sugar crystals? That can also be a sign as the taste will be far less than it should be.
If you smell something differently, strong or unpleasant, just get rid of it.
The final test is tasting it, normally if you’ve passed the above signs, it should be fine but you’re never sure until you taste it. If something’s off, or you’re in doubt, just toss them. Don’t be a hero and take unnecessary risks. If a jelly bean doesn’t taste like jelly bean or less jelly bean, it doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you. If you’re still in doubt, just toss the beans. Don’t eat them as a snack.
Enjoy your jelly beans!